Authorities in Elizabeth, North Carolina, refused to install a monument to Soviet pilots who died in the transfer of amphibious aircraft to the USSR during the Second World War. This is reported by the Associated Press.

According to the agency, the installation of the 25-ton monument was initially approved by the authorities in May 2017. The monument is dedicated to Soviet pilots who were trained in the US under the so-called "Zebra" project, which became known only in 2013 after declassifying documents. In particular, the monument was to perpetuate the death of four Soviet pilots (three Russians and one Ukrainian) and one Canadian. The tragedy occurred on the Pasquotank River: there, in 1945, a "flying boat" crashed.

The cost of manufacturing and installation of the monument was assumed by the Russian side, landscaping - American. However, as a result of the new vote, five members of the city council of Elizabeth opposed the installation of the monument, and three supported, with four of the opponents being African American, and two of the three supporters of the installation - white, so the question of installing the monument took on a racial character. In particular, as reported by the local radio station WUNC, the question was raised that while in the city the installation of the monument "Russians" is planned, there is not a single monument to the "African-American woman". However, the main circumstance that hindered previously reached agreements was the deterioration of Russian-American relations. "I understand that we are talking about honoring the memory of the heroes who fell during the Second World War, and there are American soldiers who fought in this war and are buried in Russia. But times have changed now, "said City Councilman Anita Hammer.

At the same time, 500 local residents signed an online petition in defense of the monument.

According to ABC News, the Ministry of Defense of Russia wanted to take up the installation of the monument. In February, the Russian embassy in Washington announced the appearance of the monument to Elizabeth.

Within the framework of Operation Zebra between 1944 and 1945, more than 160 American seaplanes Catalina were delivered to the USSR. At the airport in Elizabeth, Soviet pilots were trained and accepted cars, before transferring them to the USSR. In total, 11 Soviet citizens were killed in the course of the transfer of aircraft.

Link: https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5ab70ce49a79476cd65aa363